Texas Lawmakers Debate New Hazing Law | Dallas, Texas Personal Injury Attorney Blog

Texas Senator Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, has sponsored Senate Bill 48 which seeks to remove the protection of automatic immunity from civil lawsuits and criminal prosecution to all persons who report a hazing incident. Under the proposed law, immunity would only be available to persons who voluntarily report the incident to the dean of students or other appropriate school official before being contacted by school officials investigating the matter, and would require the person to continue to cooperate with the school in its investigation.

The law also attempts to make clear that a person cannot get immunity by reporting his or her own acts of hazing or if the person reports the incident in bad faith or with malice. While lawmakers continue to work on getting a consensus for the bill, and it would not be a surprise to see amendments attached to the bill or additional proposed changes. The bill is set for intent and could reach the floor of the Texas Senate any day. You can monitor the status of the bill at http://www.legis.state.tx.us/ by searching in the 81st legislature for “SB 48.”

If you or someone in your family has been seriously injured or killed as a result of hazing or if you suspect that hazing was involved, it is imperative that you act immediately to investigate the incident. Groups that engage in hazing will quickly cloak all of their activities in secrecy and begin to destroy damaging critical evidence. At Montes Herald Law Group, L.L.P., we are experienced in dealing with hazing cases. We immediately begin the fight for justice and to break through the Code of Silence that exists in fraternities, sororities, and other groups that engage in hazing.